ROCKLAND, Maine — A 33-year-old Hope man was arrested Thursday night, accused of being in possession of a handgun outside a city supermarket.

Christopher C. Robbins was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

According to an affidavit filed by Rockland police in Rockland District Court, Sgt. Matthew Lindahl and Officer Jacob Shirley responded to a report of a possible intoxicated driver in the parking lot of the Shaw’s Supermarket. When officers arrived, a pickup truck with Robbins behind the wheel was stuck against the building and apparently on fire as thick smoke was billowing from the truck, according to the affidavit.

Officers removed Robbins and a dog named Apple from the smoking truck.

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Police then determined that the vehicle was not on fire but that its rear bumper had gotten caught on a part of the building and that Robbins had been revving the engine so much in reverse that the treads of the rear tires had completely melted, causing the smoke.

Robbins told officers that he had an undiagnosed medical condition that caused him to black out, according to the affidavit. Officers, however, found two cans of an inhalant known as dust off in the vehicle which is used by some people to get high. The police report stated that Robbins appeared to have been using the inhalant although he was not charged with being under the influence.

Officers also saw a bag that was half open in the vehicle with what appeared to be the handle of a gun exposed, according to the affidavit. The officers searched the bag and found both a flare gun and a Glock handgun.

Robbins denied knowing the handgun was in the vehicle.

Robbins had a felony theft conviction from 2002, which prohibits his possessing a gun, according to the complaint filed in court by the district attorney’s office.

He was taken to the Knox County Jail and released on bail Friday afternoon. Apple was taken to the Humane Society of Knox County in Thomaston.